Toothbrush

ABSTRACT

The present invention is intended to provide a toothbrush in which the handle of the toothbrush includes a plurality of handle pieces and the handle pieces can be selectively assembled and separated by fitting coupling, screw coupling, or the like, thereby contributing to enabling children to make it a rule to brush their teeth by particularly stimulating the curiosity and interest of the children, and also improving brain development and a learning effect. The present invention provides a toothbrush including: a head ( 3 ) into which bristles ( 2 ) are planted; and a handle ( 4 ) which is coupled to the head ( 3 ); wherein the handle ( 4 ) includes a plurality of separate handle pieces ( 4   a ), and the handle pieces ( 4   a ) are selectively coupled to their adjacent handle pieces ( 4   a ) and separated from the adjacent handle pieces ( 4   a ).

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a toothbrush, and more specifically tothe provision of a toothbrush in which the handle of the toothbrushincludes a plurality of handle pieces and the handle pieces can beselectively assembled and separated by fitting coupling, screw coupling,or the like, thereby contributing to enabling children to make it a ruleto brush their teeth by particularly stimulating the curiosity andinterest of the children, and also improving brain development and alearning effect.

BACKGROUND ART

Toothbrushes which are generally used each include: a head which isintegrated with a handle; and bristles which are planted into the head.

In other words, the handle is generally integrated with the head, and anon-slip member or the like is formed on the handle in order to increasegripping force and to prevent slip, or the toothbrush is differentiatedin design.

There have been known some toothbrush products in which a head intowhich bristles are planted and a handle can be separated from eachother, and thus, when the bristles are worn or damaged, the head intowhich the bristles are planted can be separated from the handle andreplaced with a new one.

Meanwhile, it is preferable that children develop their habits ofbrushing their teeth for oral hygiene from early age. However, in thecase of conventional children's toothbrushes, favorite characters or thelike are formed on handles, the size of toothbrushes is fabricated besmaller than the size of adults' toothbrushes, or the like. Accordingly,the conventional children's toothbrushes have difficulty in making it arule for children to brush their teeth, and have a limitation on addingthe function of stimulating the curiosity or interest of children to thetoothbrushes themselves.

DISCLOSURE Technical Problem

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide atoothbrush which can highly contribute to oral hygiene because thecuriosity and interest of children, impaired people, or the like arestimulated by applying the toothbrush, provided by the presentinvention, to toothbrush handles used by the children, impaired peopleor the like, thereby inducing them to make it a rule to brush theirteeth.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toothbrush whichcan promote the brain activity of children, impaired people, and theaged by means of its toothbrush handle, thereby enabling a learningeffect to be acquired.

Technical Solution

The present invention provides a toothbrush including: a head into whichbristles are planted; and a handle which is coupled to the head; whereinthe handle includes a plurality of separate handle pieces, and thehandle pieces are selectively coupled to their adjacent handle piecesand separated from the adjacent handle pieces.

Furthermore, a fitting protrusion and a fitting depression may be formedthrough the coupling surfaces of a corresponding pair of toothbrushpieces so that the handle pieces can be fitted into the adjacent handlepieces.

Furthermore, a fitting bolt and a female screw hole may be famed throughthe coupling surfaces of a corresponding pair of toothbrush pieces sothat the handle pieces can be screwed to the adjacent handle pieces.

Furthermore, a fitting protrusion and a fitting depression may be formedthrough the coupling surfaces of a corresponding pair of toothbrushpieces so that the handle pieces can be fitted into the adjacent handlepieces, and a flexible coupling portion may be provided between thecoupling surfaces so that flexible coupling can be achieved.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the handle of the toothbrush mayinclude: a shaft which is formed from the head in the longitudinaldirection of the handle; and handle pieces which are separated into aplurality of handle pieces and have a through fitting hole which isselectively fitted over the shaft and separated from the shaft.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the handle of the toothbrush mayinclude: a shaft which is formed from the head in the longitudinaldirection of the handle; a plurality of fitting rings which are formedon the shaft; and a plurality of handle pieces which are each separatedinto upper and lower portions so that the handle pieces can beselectively fitted into the shaft and the fitting rings and separatedfrom the shaft and the fitting rings.

Furthermore, as another embodiment, the handle of the toothbrush mayinclude: a shaft which is formed from the head in the longitudinaldirection of the handle; a plurality of fitting protrusions which areformed on and beneath the shaft at predetermined intervals; and aplurality of handle pieces which have respective fitting depressionswhich can be selectively fitted into the fitting protrusions andseparated from the fitting protrusions.

Moreover, electronic chips capable of emitting light or sound may beinstalled into the respective handle pieces.

Advantageous Effects

The toothbrush which is provided by the present invention is configuredsuch that the handle is divided into the plurality of handle pieces andthe plurality of handle pieces are assembled together and used by amethod, such as fitting coupling, screw fitting, or the like, therebyparticularly stimulating the curiosity and interest of children.

Furthermore, various shapes, specific colors, numbers, or letters, orthe like are formed on the respective handle pieces by a method, such asprinting or the like, and thus a learning ability can be developed inthe process of assembling the colors or sequentially assembling thenumbers, the letters, or the like. Furthermore, electronic chips capableof emitting various types of light or sound are installed, therebystimulating interest.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a preferredembodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a plan view showing the preferred embodiment of thetoothbrush in a partially exploded state which is provided by thepresent invention and another embodiment of important portions;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing a partially different embodiment of atoothbrush which is provided by the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing another partially different embodiment ofa toothbrush which is provided by the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a plan view showing another partially different embodimentof a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention and apartially enlarged exploded view;

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing another partially different embodiment ofa toothbrush which is provided by the present invention; and

FIG. 7 is a view showing an example of a case where different colors areprinted on respective handle pieces in a toothbrush which is provided bythe present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

-   -   1: toothbrush 2: bristles    -   3: head 4: handle    -   4 a, 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, 4 e: handle piece 5: fitting protrusion    -   6: fitting depression 7: fitting bolt    -   8: female screw hole 9: flexible coupling portion    -   10: shaft 11: fitting hole    -   12: fitting ring 13: fitting depression    -   14: fitting depression 15: fitting protrusion    -   16: fitting depression

MODE FOR INVENTION

The present invention will be described in detail below with referenceto the accompanying drawings. First, it should be noted that in thedrawings, the same components or parts are designated by the samereference symbols as much as possible. In the description of the presentinvention, descriptions of related well-known functions or componentswill be omitted in order to prevent the gist of the present inventionfrom being ambiguous.

The terms of degree, such as “about,” “substantially,” and the like usedherein are used in the sense of at or nearly at when given themanufacturing, design, and material tolerances inherent in the statedcircumstances, and are used to prevent the unscrupulous infringer fromunfairly taking advantage of the invention disclosure where exact orabsolute figures and operational or structural relationships are statedas an aid to understanding the invention.

A toothbrush provided by the present invention is characterized in thata handle includes a plurality of handle pieces and the handle pieces canbe selectively separated from each other and coupled to each other andcan then be used.

Furthermore, the head and handle pieces of the toothbrush can beselectively separated from each other and coupled to each other. Amethod of coupling the components to each other may include fittingcoupling, screw coupling, etc.

The present invention is characterized in that when the handle piecesare assembled together, the shape of the overall handle may be one ofvarious polygons, such as a cylindrical shape, a square shape, etc. andis also characterized in that the shapes of the handle pieces may beformed in different shapes.

The present invention is characterized in that specific colors, numbers,letters, or the like are formed on the respective handle pieces by oneof various methods, such as printing, etc., thereby promoting brainactivity and also achieving a learning effect.

Furthermore, the present invention is characterized in that electronicchips capable of emitting various types of light or sound duringcoupling or separation are installed into the respective handle pieces.

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of a preferredembodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention,and FIG. 2 shows a plan view showing the configuration in a partiallyexploded state and another embodiment of important portions.

As shown in the drawings, the toothbrush 1 of the present invention is atypical toothbrush 1 including a head 3 into which bristles 2 areplanted and a handle 4, wherein the handle 4 includes a plurality ofseparate handle pieces 4 a and the plurality of separate handle pieces 4a are selectively fitted or screwed into each other and separated fromeach other.

The handle piece 4 a which is coupled at the foremost end among thehandle pieces 4 a is selectively coupled or separated on the rear sideof the head 3.

A fitting protrusion 5 and a fitting depression 6 are formed in thecoupling portions of the head 3 and the handle piece 4 a so that theycan correspond to each other in order to enable fitting. It ispreferable that the head 3 and the handle piece 4 a be tightly fittedinto each other so that they are not easily separated from each otherunless a predetermined external force is applied after fitting.

A fitting bolt 7 and a female screw hole 8 are formed in the couplingportions of the head 3 and the handle piece 4 a so that they cancorrespond to each other in order to enable screw coupling.

Furthermore, a fitting bolt 7 and a female screw hole 8 are formed inthe coupling portions of the handle pieces 4 a other than the head 3regardless of sequence so that they can correspond to each other.

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the overall configuration of anotherembodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention.

This shows an example of a case where a handle 4 includes a plurality ofseparate handle pieces 4 a and a flexible coupling portion 9 made of aflexible material is formed between the coupling portions of each pairof adjacent handle pieces 4 a so that the handle 4 has slightflexibility and can thus be adjusted in angle within a predeterminedangle range when the adjacent handle pieces 4 a are coupled to eachother.

FIG. 4 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of still anotherembodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention.

This shows an example of a case where a handle 4 includes a plurality ofseparate handle pieces 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e and the individual handlepieces 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e are fabricated in different shapes.

In this case, although the fitting protrusion 5 and the fittingdepression 6, or the fitting bolt 7 and the female screw hole 8 may beapplied to the adjacent handle piece 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e, as describedabove, there may be used a method in which a shaft 10 may be extendedfrom a head 3 in the longitudinal direction of the handle 4 and thehandle pieces 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e may be sequentially fitted over theshaft 10 via a fitting hole 11 formed through the handle pieces 4 b, 4c, 4 d and 4 e.

FIG. 5 shows a plan view showing the overall configuration of stillanother embodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the presentinvention and a partially exploded view.

In the present embodiment, a handle 4 includes a plurality of separatehandle pieces 4 f, and the handle pieces 4 f are fitted over a shaft 10which is extended from a head 3 in the longitudinal direction of thehandle 4.

For this purpose, each of the handle pieces 4 f is divided into twoparts. Furthermore, in order to enable the handle pieces 4 f to befitted over the shaft 10 in vertical directions, a fitting ring 12 isformed around the shaft 10 at the center of the shaft 10, and asemicircular fitting depression 13 configured to be fitted over thefitting ring 12 and a semicircular fitting depression 14 configured tobe fitted over the shaft 10 are formed in each of equally divided handlepieces 4 f in the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby enabling thehandle pieces 4 f to be selectively coupled to each other and separatedfrom each other.

FIG. 6 is a plan view showing the overall configuration of still anotherembodiment of a toothbrush which is provided by the present invention.

The toothbrush 1 of the present invention is a toothbrush 1 including ahead 3 into which bristles 2 are planted and a handle 4 which isconnected to the head 3, wherein the handle 4 is configured such that aplurality of fitting protrusions 15 is formed on and beneath a shaft 10(in the drawing), integrated with the head 3 and extended in alongitudinal direction, at predetermined intervals and a plurality ofhandle pieces 4 g having respective fitting depressions 16 configured tobe fitted over the fitting protrusion 15 is provided, thereby enablingthe handle pieces 4 g to be selectively coupled to each other andseparated from each other.

The cross section of the shaft 10 may be designed and fabricated invarious shapes, such as a square shape, a rectangular shape, a circularshape, etc., and the cross section of the handle piece 4 g may also bedesigned and fabricated in various shapes, such as a square shape, arectangular shape, etc., thereby achieving the effects of stimulatingthe curiosity and interest of children, impaired people, or the like,and a learning effect.

Meanwhile, FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a case where one embodiment ofa toothbrush 1 which is provided by the present invention is applied.This drawing shows a case where a plurality of separate handle pieces 4a having rainbow colors, i.e., red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo,and violet, are sequentially assembled together.

Furthermore, existing mass-produced electronic chips (not shown) capableof emitting light or sound are installed into the respective handlepieces 4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d, and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g applied to the variousembodiments of the toothbrush 1 of the present invention, and thusvarious types of light (LED lamp light or the like) or various types ofsound (various signal sounds, such as specific melodies, alarm sounds,or the like) can be emitted when the handle pieces 4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d,and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g are fitted into each other or separated from eachother, thereby stimulating interest. Unlike in the case of generalsupplies manufactured by toothbrush manufacturers and supplied toconsumers, consumers may directly fabricate the toothbrushes by usingthree-dimensional printers and then use them.

The toothbrush 1 of the present invention, which may be configured asdescribed above, is the toothbrush 1 including the head 3 and the handle4, wherein the handle 4 includes the plurality of separates handlepieces 4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g and the handle pieces 4a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g are coupled to each other by amethod, such as fitting coupling, screw fitting, or the like, therebybeing used as a toothbrush 1. Accordingly, in particular, the curiosityand interest of children can be stimulated.

Specific colors, numbers, letters, or the like are formed on therespective handle pieces 4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g by amethod, such as printing or the like, and thus a learning ability can bedeveloped in such a manner that the colors are combined or the numbersor letters are sequentially combined.

It will be apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art to whichthe present invention pertains that the toothbrush of the presentinvention, which has been described above, is not limited to theabove-described embodiments and the accompanying drawings but varioussubstitutions, modifications and alterations may be made withoutdeparting from the technical spirit of the present invention.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The present invention is applicable to the field of toothbrushes eachincluding a header and a handle into which bristles are planted.

1. A toothbrush comprising: a head (3) into which bristles (2) areplanted; and a handle (4) which is coupled to the head (3); wherein thehandle (4) includes a plurality of separate handle pieces (4 a), and thehandle pieces (4 a) are selectively coupled to their adjacent handlepieces (4 a) and separated from the adjacent handle pieces (4 a).
 2. Thetoothbrush of claim 1, wherein a fitting protrusion (5) and a fittingdepression (6) are formed through coupling surfaces of a correspondingpair of toothbrush pieces so that the handle pieces (4 a) can be fittedinto the adjacent handle pieces (4 a).
 3. The toothbrush of claim 1,wherein a fitting bolt (7) and a female screw hole (8) are formedthrough coupling surfaces of a corresponding pair of toothbrush piecesso that the handle pieces (4 a) can be screwed to the adjacent handlepieces (4 a).
 4. The toothbrush of claim 1, wherein a fitting protrusion(5) and a fitting depression (6) are formed through coupling surfaces ofa corresponding pair of toothbrush pieces so that the handle pieces (4a) can be fitted into the adjacent handle pieces (4 a), and a flexiblecoupling portion (9) is provided between the coupling surfaces so thatflexible coupling can be achieved.
 5. A toothbrush comprising: a head(3) into which bristles (2) are planted; and a handle (4) which iscoupled to the head (3); wherein the handle (4) includes: a shaft (10)which is formed from the head (3) in a longitudinal direction of thehandle (4); and handle pieces (4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e) which areseparated into a plurality of handle pieces and have a through fittinghole (11) which is selectively fitted over the shaft (10) and separatedfrom the shaft (10).
 6. A toothbrush comprising: a head (3) into whichbristles (2) are planted; and a handle (4) which is coupled to the head(3); wherein the handle (4) includes: a shaft (10) which is formed fromthe head (3) in a longitudinal direction of the handle (4); a pluralityof fitting rings (12) which are formed on the shaft (10); and aplurality of handle pieces (4 f) which are each separated into upper andlower portions so that the handle pieces (4 f) can be selectively fittedinto the shaft (10) and the fitting rings (12) and separated from theshaft (10) and the fitting rings (12).
 7. A toothbrush comprising: ahead (3) into which bristles (2) are planted; and a handle (4) which iscoupled to the head (3); wherein the handle (4) includes: a shaft (10)which is formed from the head (3) in a longitudinal direction of thehandle (4); a plurality of fitting protrusions (15) which are formed onand beneath the shaft (10) at predetermined intervals; and a pluralityof handle pieces (4 g) which have respective fitting depressions (16)which can be selectively fitted into the fitting protrusions (15) andseparated from the fitting protrusions (15).
 8. The toothbrush of claim1, wherein electronic chips capable of emitting light or sound areinstalled into the handle pieces (4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4g).
 9. The toothbrush of claim 5, wherein electronic chips capable ofemitting light or sound are installed into the handle pieces (4 a; 4 b,4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g).
 10. The toothbrush of claim 6, whereinelectronic chips capable of emitting light or sound are installed intothe handle pieces (4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 d and 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g).
 11. Thetoothbrush of claim 7, wherein electronic chips capable of emittinglight or sound are installed into the handle pieces (4 a; 4 b, 4 c, 4 dand 4 e; 4 f; or 4 g).